Sailing is not a pleasure that is typically afforded to kids that live in the city. I was fortunate enough to have been introduced to it through Courageous Sailing in more ways than one. First, my initial contact with sailing when I was 8 years old in their youth program, then yet again once I became a freshman at Boston Latin School, finding out that maybe I wanted to try doing it at a competitive level. There were rough patches (including my almost being asked to leave the team) initially, but by my junior year I knew that it was something I wanted to pursue seriously; so I did.

The 9th annual Richard B. Ross Memorial College Bowl will be sailed in Boston Harbor on October 5, 2013 out of Courageous Sailing in the Charlestown Navy Yard. The regatta was established in 2004 by Judi Ross Zuker to commemorate the life of her husband Richard Ross. A passionate sailor and a believer in the transformative power of education, Richard took great pleasure in cultivating a love for sailing in others. Though his life was tragically lost in the attacks of September 11th, 2001, his family continues to honor his zeal for sailing and education by providing generous support to the Courageous Sailing Youth Program in his name. Since 2009, the Richard B. Ross Memorial College Bowl has been a fixture of the New England college-sailing circuit, and draws some of the areas top teams. For 2013, teams from Harvard, Tufts, Roger Williams, Brown, Northeastern, UNH, Brandeis, Williams and Bentley are already confirmed. The one-day event is sailed in the same Rhodes 19's keelboats that serve as the core fleet for the Courageous Summer Youth Program.

Registration for the 20 boat fleet is still open to all NEISA sailors The winning boat will have their names inscribed onto the Richard B. Ross Memorial Trophy, which hangs in the Courageous Sailing Boathouse for perpetuity. Past winners include 2012 - Roger Williams University; 2011 Williams; 2009 & 2010 Roger Williams University. Up to 6 boats will be available for alumni to race. A suggested donation of $100 per alumni boat will help support 2014 Summer Youth Programs at Courageous. Spectators are welcome to view the regatta from the end of Pier 4.